Athens Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch: Tuesday, November 10, 1970
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: November 9, 1970
Weapon Used: Officer's shotgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman John Goodin died eight hours after accidentally shooting himself with a 12 gauge shotgun.
He had just finished a training session and was going to assist other officers having problems near an off-campus university building complex. Patrolman Goodin and another officer were taking an unmarked car to the area. He opened the driver’s door of the patrol car and reached for the shotgun, grabbing it by the barrel. As he pulled it towards him, the trigger caught on the VASCAR speed-checking unit mounted in the front seat and discharged. The blast struck him in the stomach, killing him.
Patrolman Goodin had served with the Athens Police Department for two years. He was survived by a wife and an 11-month-old son.